Locomotive stoker



May 15, 1923. 1,455,058 V N. M LOWER I LOCOMOTIVE woman I Filed Aug. 3, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Patented May 15,1923.

PATENT OFFICE. j'

NATHAN M. LOWER, or PITTSBURGH, rENNsYLvANIA, ASSIGNOR T Locombrrvn sroxnn COMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

nocomorrvn s'r oKEn.

Application filed August 8, 1918. Serial No. 248,949.

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN M. Lownn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, county of Allegheny, and. I State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive Stokers, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming apart thereof. The invention relates to stoker mechanism 'for locomotives, and particularly to thedischarge and distributing tube or nozzle through which fuel is injected into the firebox. 1

Its objects are to provide improved means for safeguarding the tube against the destructive effect of the intense heat within the fire-box, and for distributing the fuel as it is discharged from the tube. v

The invention consists of a structure such as hereinafter described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a detail vertical section through the back wall of a locomotive fire-box, showing the fuel elevating and discharging mechanism in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a detail plan section on the line 22of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail section on the l1ne 3--3 of Fig. is a detail plan view of the fuel elevator and distributing tube;

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section, partly in elevation, of the elevator, distributing tube and fire-box back wall; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

The back wall of the fire-box is represented at 10, and is provided with an aperture 11 through whic projects the discharge and distributing tube 12, leading from an elevator conduit 13 of known form. The outerend of the tube 12 is fitted into a collar 14 and secured thereto by means of screw bolts, as 15, the collar being fitted against and bolted to the outer face of the conduit 13 and inclosing the discharge aperture in the wall thereof.

The distributing tube 12 is somewhat smaller than the aperture 11,the reby providing for the admission of air around it for the urpose of keeping it comparatively cool. referably the tube is flattened at the top 55' and bottom, thus providing a larger air space above and below it and a flat floor over which the fuel is impelled, and a fiat upper surface which retains the fuel in a more compact mass and aids in giving it (lirectimu The size of the air openings around the tube may be regulated by the use of damper plates of any desired form, there being shown a pair of fiat plates 16, 17, bolted to the outer face of the back wall 10, respectively. above and below the tube 12, and being vertically adjustable, the boltholes therein being elongated. These plates are recessed in their margins adjacent the tube in-order that they may conform to its general contour.

The body of the tube 12 terminates near the inner surface of the back wall 10, and is provided with upper and lower forwardly projecting plates 18. 19. The plate 19 is preferably provided with an upstanding transverse lip 20, and immediately back of this lip with laterally opening recesses 21, 22.

For the purpose of throwing the fuel into the fire-box with sufficient force to scatter it over the grate surface, one 01' more fluid nipples 23 are provided, entering through the rear end of the tube, as shown being located within the collar 14. Each nipple has .a discharge port 24 directed forwardly into the tube 12, and from which issues a jet of steam or air, under com )ression, of sufficient force to impel the uel into the firebox. There may also be provided a nipple 25 projecting upwardly from the forward end of the plate 19, either through the lip 20 or in 'lace of it and havin dischar e orts 26 directed obliquely backward. A pipe 27 leads to the nipple 2 5 for delivering steam or compressed airthereto. Jets of air or steam may be introduced through the aperture 11 by means of suitable nipples, as 28, for inducing a copious flow of air into the fire-box.

Sufficient force is applied throughthe nipples 23 to throw the fuel as far into the firebox as may be required. When the lip 20 is present it constitutes an abutment as distinguished from a deflector directly crossing the path of the lower stratum of fuel as it advances over the feed plate or bottom of the tube 12. Particles of fuel striking this abut ment are stopped and drop into the channels 21, 22, from which they roll laterally upon the grate. When the nipple 25 is introduced the jets of fluid issuing therefrom and directed obliquely backward, counteract to some extent the impelling force of the fluid issuing from the nipple 23, the resultant force having the effect of scattering the lower stratum of fuel laterally and delivering it to the forward portion of the grate and along the side margins thereof. The two forms of lateral and backward distributing means may be used together to advantage in many instances; the abutment 20 and the channels 21, 22, securing the delivery of fuel adjacent to and directly below the feed tube, and the jets giving a wider range of lateral scattering.

The forwardly projecting plates 18, 19, are preferably strengthened by the formation on their outer faces of suitable ribs, and when the recesses 21, 22, are employed the lower plate 19 must be ofsuflicient thickness to provide for them. This mass of metal renders the projecting plates increasingly susceptible to the influences of the heat of the firebox, and thereby increases the importance of providing cooling air currents, especially above and below the tube 12. The use of the inducing jets from the nipples 28 is of special value when the engine is stationary and forced draft is not being employed.

I claim as my invention 1. Ina mechanical stoker, in combination, a plate over which fuel may be impelled and having a laterally opening channel near its forward'end and an abutment crossing its forward end for stopping the advance of a portion of the fuel and causing it to fall into the channel.

2. In a mechanical stoker, in combination, a distributing plate for fuel having lateral channels in its upper surface, a transverse abutment at the forward margins of the channels and rising above the level of the plate back of the channels and directly crossing the path of fuel moving over the plate, and means for deliverino a fuel impelling blast over the surface of the plate.

3. In a mechanical stoker, in combination, a feed tube, means for delivering an impelling blast through the tube, and means for delivering upon the lower stratum of fuel as it issues from the tube a plurality of fluid jets directed obliquely backward with reference to the direction of movement of the fuel, the upper portion of the tube being unobstructed whereby the forward movement of the upper strata of entering fuel is un-' impeded.

4. A fuel delivering device for stokers comprising a plate over the surface of which fuel may be impelled, and an abutment cross ing the path of such stratum of fuel and being located beyond the end of the plate...

5. In combination, a locomotive having a fire-box, a fuel discharging and distributing tube entering the firebox, a fluid discharging nipple extending .upwardly from an extension of the inner end of the floor of the tube and having discharge ports directed obliquely backward, and means for impelling fuel through the tubea 6. In combination, .a locomotive having a firebox, a fuel discharging and distributing tube entering the fire-box, means for discharging an impelling blast of fluid'under pressure through the tube, and means for discharging fluid jets obliquely backward over laterally unobstructed portions of the floor of the tube from its forward end whereby the lower stratum of entering fuel is deflected laterally.

7. In a mechanical stoker, in combination, a plate over which fuel may be impelled' and having a laterally opening channel adjacent its delivery end and an abutment at the forward margin of the channel, such abutment being approximately normal to the path of the impelled fuel and projecting above the level of the plate.

8. A fuel distributor comprising, in combination, a substantially horizontal tube, a blast nozzle discharging through the tube, an abutment crossing the lower portion of the discharge end of the tube and projecting above the inner surface thereof, the tube being provided with laterally opening pockets immediately back of the abutment.

9. A fuel distributor comprising a flat plate, an abutmentcrossing the forward end of the plate and projecting above the surface thereof, the plate being provided with laterally opening pockets immediately back of the abutment, and a nipple for discharg ing fluid under pressure over the surface of the plate.

NATHAN M. LOWER. 

